Last August, ARPEL conducted three different webinars for members on the following topics: "Social investment in the oil and gas industry in Latin America and the Caribbean;" "Labor flexibility - telecommuting;" and "Green bond market and the oil and gas industry.”

The purpose of the first webinar was to present the current concept of social investment, how it is included in the broader context of Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability, what the challenges for its management are, how to measure it, how to analyze its impact and its connection with social risks. Studies and opinion polls at the global level reveal the existence of high expectations of the society with respect to the active role of companies in solving social problems.

The introduction was presented by Maia Seeger, Executive Director of SustentaRSE, and experiences were presented by Diego Mendoza, Leader of Strategy and Social Investment of Equión, and Juan Martín Angulo, Deputy Manager of Social Development of Petroperú.

The second webinar on "Labor flexibility - Telecommuting" sought to present the vision and experience of ARPEL member companies in regard to the concepts of labor flexibility, the application of new technologies, new workspaces and remote working.

The current changes in talent management in companies with the use of new technologies, greater efficiency and productivity, and the need to attract and recruit the best talent of the new generations and retain talent already available make flexibility in the organization of work become a key element.

The presenters were Carolina Parrella, Change Management and Communication of YPF; Cecilia Boschiazzo, Manager of Culture and Talent Management of REPSOL and Daniela Vilella, Leader of Human Talent of PETROBRAS.

The last webinar dealt with "Green bond market and the oil and gas industry." Its aim was to familiarize participants with the green bond market: description, available standards, taxonomy of projects, verification, methodologies, green quality, transparency, price, etc. Also analyzed and discussed were the factors and challenges, and how this financial mechanism presents an excellent opportunity for the industry.

Green bonds have been considered for a couple of years as the most important instrument at the global level to channel funds from public and private source for sustainable development, both to fund the UN 2030 Agenda and to implement the Paris Agreement.

The Latin American green bond market has exceeded USD 10 billion issued since the first bond issuance. 2017 has been exceptional: the green bond market doubled, credit rating agencies joined the market, and new geographies and industrial sectors entered the market for the first time.

The speaker was Alejandra Cámara, founder and Director of GENESIS, a consulting firm specialized in climate change and sustainable financing.